Throw in a removable waterproof/windproof interior liner, the latest D3O LP1 vented armor, a technical fabric spec and an aggressively affordable price tag, and the Shenstone adds up to a damn versatile summer jacket option that can easily stretch through 3 seasons of use. Or four, for you Floridians.

There’s a lot going on with the Shenstone, but let’s start with the material. Like all Merlin jackets the waxed cotton comes from the Scottish firm Halley Stevensons.

Unlike all preceding Merlin fabric specs, however, this one goes by the name of “Cotec." This is the secret to this jacket’s “AA” safety rating: a super-tough textile that tests well for most any type of street bike use.

Armor-wise, Merlin has finally signed up with maybe the most reputable armor supplier in the business, and the Shensone comes with D3O level-one armor at the shoulders and elbows, The jacket also comes with a D3O Back Viper protector, included.

So is it all hight praise and hallelujah for the Shenstone? Mostly, actually.

But the jacket does comes out of the box looking/seeming just slightly confused. Merlin’s waxed cotton jackets have always been particularly, well, waxed. Like wet-to-the-touch waxed.

Considering a healthy portion of the jacket’s shell is made of completely diaphanous mesh, and therefore is in now way waterproof (not without the internal “oh shit its gonna rain” zip-in liner), it's sort of a silly design conceit that the other panels of the jacket's outer shell still comes with any wax at all.

A matte material with a dry “hand” to it would have been appreciated, but for this look, feel, and price-point, the wet-wax on a mesh jacket can be forgiven easily.

The Shenstone is ready (and rated) for the open road. And it looks mostly like a normal café racer style short-cut jacket. And the waxy feel of the fabric will tone down with use, leaving the user with a good-looking, low-key, high-performing armored jacket for summer in the city—or getting out of said city.

For those climates like ours here in the Northeast United States, this jacket will excel in the summer months, and will get you through the shoulder seasons thanks to the Resissa brand waterproof/breathable zip-in liner—which also provides some valuable insulation from the wind and cold.

For best results of riding distance through rain, pack an additional rain liner to go over the jacket – otherwise you’ll be left with a soggy shell, although you'll remain dry underneath. 

Features: 

• Halley Stevensons 8oz Cotec fabric
• Large ventilation panels at torso and inner arm
• Reissa Active waterproof removable liner
• Quilted shoulders
• Velcro sleeve adjusters at biceps
• D30 LP1 shoulder and elbow armor included
• D30 Viper back protector Included
• YKK / Max zippers 
• Merlin branded snaps at pockets and wrist closures
• YKK jacket to pants connection zipper

 

**NOTE: Not seeing your size? This jacket has been hard to keep in stock but we've got more on the way. Message our Support Team via this link to let us know what size you're after and we'll notify you when it's back in stock.